His World

The ceremony took seven minutes.

Judge Morrison read from a paper, then asked if I would take Kael Blackwell as my husband. I said yes. My voice, thin and distant, didn't even sound like my own.

Kael, on the other hand, said yes without a trace of hesitation—like it was nothing more than a business transaction.

"By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

No kiss. No celebration. I searched Kael’s face, hoping for some warmth and finding only indifference. The silence in the room felt huge.

After shaking Kael's hand and giving him a marriage certificate, the judge left. It was suddenly quiet in the room. I had just signed my life away with a pen as I stood there. Kael broke the silence: "Your things have been collected from the motel." He returned to his desk as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't just married a lady he accused of being a criminal. "You'll be driven to the penthouse by my driver."

Mrs. Chen will show you to your room."

"Mrs. Chen?"

"The housekeeper. She'll explain the household rules."

Household rules. Like I was a child being sent to boarding school. Frustration pinched at my throat. I wanted to protest but couldn’t find my voice.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I need to finish my work. I'll be home by midnight." He opened his laptop. "The car is waiting."

That was it. I felt like I'd vanished, dissolved into the quiet, into a life I hadn't chosen.

In less than ten minutes, they were married and dismissed.

In the doorway was the same woman who had guided me to his office. "This way, Mrs. Blackwell."

Blackwell, Mrs., I felt nauseated at the name.

I followed her out of Kael's office. We walked down the hall to the elevator. All the way to the lobby, neither of us spoke. A black vehicle was waiting at the curb outside.

The driver opened the door.

I got in.

We traveled the city by car. Away from downtown's dazzling lights. into an area where the streets became quieter, and the buildings grew taller. Old money. The type of establishment where doormen knew everyone's names and wore white gloves.

The vehicle came to a stop in front of a building that looked like it was from a movie. marble foyer. Fittings made of gold. Before I could grab the handle, a doorman unlocked my door.

"Good evening, Mrs. Blackwell."

Everyone knew already. Of course they did. Kael Blackwell didn't do anything quietly.

The lobby was all white marble and fresh flowers. An elevator with mirrors on every wall. I looked terrible. Hair a mess. Dress wrinkled.

red eyes from lack of sleep.

The penthouse was readily accessible from the elevator.

I froze as soon as I went outside.

windows that look out over the city from floor to ceiling.

White furniture. Modern art on the walls. Everything is clean, cold, and expensive.

The kind of place where touching anything made you nervous.

A woman in her fifties emerged from somewhere and said, "Mrs. Blackwell."

Gray hair pulled back. Stern face. "I'm Mrs. Chen. I manage the household."

"Hi."

"Mr. Blackwell has instructed me to show you to your room and explain the expectations."

Expectations. Not rules. Expectations.

She led me down a hallway. Opened a door.

The room was small. Guest room-sized. A bed. A dresser. A window that looked out at another building. Nothing personal. Nothing warm.

"This is your space," Mrs. Chen declared. At the opposite end of the hallway is Mr. Blackwell's room. You must get authorization before entering."

"Okay."

"At seven, breakfast is served. By then, you should be prepared and clothed. Mr. Blackwell does not accept tardiness.

I gave a nod.

"You must notify me before leaving the penthouse. You should not extend invitations to visitors. You are not allowed to greet building employees or answer the door.

She kept going. List after list of things I couldn't do. Places I couldn't go.

I was unable to reach them. "Mr. Blackwell has requested that you stay away from his nephew and the Blackwell family." You must notify him right away if they make contact.

"What about my sister?"

Mrs. Chen's expression didn't change. "You may contact her once a week for fifteen minutes. Supervised."

"Supervised?"

"Mr. Blackwell will be present during the call."

My chest constricted. He was cutting me off from everyone. taking charge of every aspect of my life.

"Your belongings from the motel are in the closet," Mrs. Chen added. "Mr. Blackwell has made arrangements for the delivery of suitable clothing tomorrow. Over the coming weeks, you'll be going to a number of public events with him."

"Events?"

"You're his wife now. You'll be expected to appear at his side. Smile when appropriate. Speak when spoken to. Represent the Blackwell name with dignity."

She spoke to me as though I were a trained dog learning new skills.

"Do you have any questions?"

I wanted to ask a thousand questions. But I didn't ask any of them.

"No."

"Excellent. Dinner is at eight if you're hungry. The kitchen is located down the hallway.

She turned to leave, then stopped. "One more thing. Mr. Blackwell values privacy. What happens in this home stays in this home. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

She left.

I sat on the bed. It was soft. Expensive. The kind of mattress I could never afford.

This was my life now. A small room in a cold penthouse. Rules and restrictions. A husband who looked at me like I was property he'd purchased.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number. I almost didn't answer.

"Aria?"

Damien.

"How did you get this number?"

"I can't believe you actually did it." He laughed. Bitter and mean. "You married my uncle. You actually married him."

"How did you get this number?"

"I can't believe you actually did it." He chuckled. cruel and resentful. "You married my uncle. In reality, you actually married him.

"I didn't have a choice."

"You always have a choice. Once more, you put money before dignity.

"That's not—"

"Everyone is discussing it. Kael Blackwell is now married to the woman who deceived the Blackwell family. People find it amusing. or pitiful. Depending on who you ask.

"Why are you calling me?"

"To warn you. My uncle isn't doing this out of kindness. He doesn't do anything without a reason. And whatever his reason is, it's not good for you."

"I know that."

"Do you?

Because you just entered a prison and closed the door yourself, as far as I can see." He lowered his voice. "Aria, he's going to ruin your life. Everyone will be watching.

Including me."

He hung up.

I sat there holding my phone. Staring at the walls of my new prison.

The door opened. I jumped.

Kael stood in the doorway. Still in his suit. Still perfect.

His icy gray eyes were fixed on me.

"Mrs. Chen explained the expectations?"

"Yes."

"Good." He entered the space. With him in it, it seemed smaller. "My lawyer and I are going to have brunch tomorrow morning. You'll sign more documents. non-disclosure contracts. financial documents.

Then we're attending a charity gala in the evening."

"A gala?"

"You are my spouse. People must witness that. He made his way to the window. Looked out at the city. "You'll smile.  You'll be courteous. You'll tell everyone who asks that we've been secretly dating for months and have made the hasty decision to be married. Nobody should be aware of the charges or the contract.

"You want me to lie."

"I want you to play your role." He looked over at me. "You signed the contract. You consented to be my wife for a year.

That means public appearances. Social events.

pretending that this marriage is legitimate.

"It's not a real marriage."

"To everyone else, it is."

He walked toward me.

stopped a short distance away. "I want to be extremely clear about something. I won't be embarrassed by you. You won't cause a scene.

You will not give anyone reason to question this marriage. If you do, the deal is off, and you go to prison. Understood?"

I wanted to tell him to go to hell. To stand up and fight back. But I couldn't. He held all the power. All the control.

"Understood," I whispered.

"Good." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Dropped it on the dresser. "Wear that tomorrow night."

I opened it. A ring. Diamond. Huge. The kind of ring that costs more than most people make in a year.

"It was my grandmother's," Kael said. "The press will notice. They'll write articles about how romantic it is."

This was not romantic at all.

He made his way to the door.

Stopped. "One more thing. My nephew called you tonight."

My blood ran cold. "How did you—"

"I monitor this phone. Every call. Every text. Every search."

He gave me a look that could have been satisfaction. "Aria, you have no privacy here. This will be simpler if you acknowledge that sooner.

He began to walk away.

"Why are you doing this?" I inquired.

He hesitated. didn't look back.

"Because I can."

After him, the door shut.

His footsteps echoed along the hallway. Another door opens and shuts.

The penthouse went quiet.

I examined the ring that was resting on the dresser. My grandmother’s ring. He had spoken so nonchalantly. As if it were usual to give me the jewelry of a deceased woman.

I strolled over to the window.

Looked out at the city. Millions of people down there are living normal lives. Going to jobs they chose. Coming home to people they loved. Free.

I pressed my hand against the glass. It was cold.

Somewhere in this building, Kael Blackwell was probably working. Making money. Planning his next move. Living his life like nothing had changed.

However, for me, everything had changed.

The man I was married to hated me. living in a prison that passes for luxury. acting in a part for which I never auditioned.

My phone sat on the bed. He was monitoring it. Watching everything I did. Every person I tried to contact.

I picked it up anyway. Opened my messages. Found Sophie's name.

I love you. I'm alright. I'll give you a call shortly.

Before I could send the message, I erased it.

He would notice it. He would be aware. And in some way, he would turn it against me.

I reclined on the bed after setting down the phone. gazed up at the ceiling.

I would dress up tomorrow, pretend to be Kael Blackwell's contented wife, and smile at strangers.

I would begin learning how to live in his world tomorrow.

However, I allowed myself to cry tonight. No one would see or hear the silent weeping.

Since this was now my life.

And there was no way out.